WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2018 /Christian
Newswire/ -- The Institute on Religion and Democracy is rejoicing over
news of Pakistan's Supreme Court overturning the death penalty conviction of
Aasiya Noreen, commonly known as Asia Bibi, a Christian Pakistani woman
falsely accused of blasphemy against Islam.

Bibi has been imprisoned in a Pakistani jail since 2010. She was arrested
after her Muslim neighbors accused her of defiling a water bucket and
insulting the prophet Muhammed during a dispute. Pakistan is notorious for
its strict blasphemy laws used to ban any criticism of Islam and to infringe
on the human rights of its religious minorities.

Violent protests and clashes with police have broken out in response to the
court's ruling, according to BBC reports and multiple other news sources. A
Christian friend of IRD in Pakistan reported many churches in his
neighborhood are being attacked, causing him to flee. He also reports
widespread angry mobs.

"We thank God for the just acquittal of this precious
sister in the Lord. Please pray for her and her family, and all of the
Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan, that they will be
protected from the virulent backlash of the mobs who are already
attacking their communities. We should also pray for the justices of the
Supreme Court of Pakistan and Bibi's attorney, Saiful Malook, all
courageous men who put truth and justice ahead of their own security.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa quoted Shakespeare's King Lear to say that Bibi
was 'more sinned against than sinning' in this long ordeal.

"It is time for the government of Pakistan to get rid of these egregious
blasphemy laws. Whether used for actual cases of blasphemy or, as has
been almost always the case, used for trumped-up charges to victimize an
individual, they are appalling violations of human rights. There has
been ongoing deliberation over both U.S. House and Senate Resolutions
decrying blasphemy laws globally. We urge the U.S. Congress to pass
them. At the same time, the news that police and paramilitary groups are
attempting to protect the Christians from mobs ginned up by such Islamic
jihadists as Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan is encouraging and shows that
the government is not ignoring the threat that this acquittal poses to
vulnerable Christians. We urge them to continue to crack down on the
violence.

"Such terrible evil has resulted from such a ridiculous and false
charge! Not only were Bibi and her family separated for so many years,
but several good, courageous people were slain for speaking out against
the blasphemy law and speaking for Asia Bibi. Two examples include a
Christian, Government Minister for Minority Rights, Shahbaz Bhatti, and
a Muslim, Punjab Province Governor, Salman Taseer. They were both gunned
down for defending those accused of blasphemy."